Grahame Bond

Grahame Bond is one of Australia’s most prolific, influential and best-loved personalities. Having entertained and informed Australians for over thirty years, Grahame says he’s been “trapped in the A’s” – art, architecture, acting, advertising, archaeology and of course, Aunty Jack.

Grahame began his career at Sydney University as a founding member of the Architecture Revue, which included Geoffrey Atherden (writer, Mother and Son, Grassroots), Peter Weir (director, Gallipoli, The Truman Show), Peter Best (composer Crocodile Dundee, Wildside) and Rory O’Donoghue (Aunty Jack, Bushtucker Man).

In 1967 he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture Degree, and began tutoring in Design at Sydney University.

In 1971, he created the ground-breaking ABC comedy series Aunty Jack, which was followed by Flash Nick from Jindavick, Wollongong the Brave and the Off Show. In 1997, Aunty Jack appeared on British television as Not the Aunty Jack Show on London Weekend Television.

As a musical writer, in 1970 Grahame wrote and performed in Hamlet on Ice. In 1978, together with Jim Burnett, Grahame wrote the long running musical Boys Own McBeth that toured both Australia and America successfully. In the 80s, he wrote and directed the musical Captain Bloody for the Elizabethan Theatre Trust.

Grahame has won numerous awards including a Logie for Best Australian Comedy (Aunty Jack), an Awgie Ward from the Australian Writer’s Guild in recognition for his contribution to Australian comedy, and the 1981 AFI Music Award for Best Soundtrack for the feature film Fatty Fin.

In 1990, Grahame opened his own advertising agency Bond Strohfeldt, winning many blue chip clients including Daihatsu, Bridgestone, Virgin and Disney. In 1996 he sold the business for the opportunity to travel.

As an adventurer Grahame has trekked in Nepal, canoed in Kakadu, cycled from Hanoi to Saigon, dug up archaeological ruins in Jordan, Cyprus and Syria, and most recently filmed a documentary in Papua New Guinea titled, The Big Chief.

Grahame hosted Channel Seven’s Whose House is it Anyway, and was an Architect on Better Homes and Gardens for six years.

Grahame’s experience as an architect, comedian, performer, television presenter, musician and budding archaeologist, as well as his infectious enthusiasm and sense of humour, make him an entertaining, inspiring and thought-provoking speaker.